Gun sight



SEARCH RUUM Oi 7.947lu7l May 31, 1949. D. s. McMlLLAN GUN S IGHT Filed Aug. 12, 1947 Edi/ INVENTOR. us. M MILLAN ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1949 Stlilith liUUlVl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUN SIGHT Daniel S. McMillan, Raleigh, N. 0.

Application August 12, 1947, Serial No. 768,117

6 Claims. (01. 3351) This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to sighting devices for use in conjunction therewith.

The invention is especially directed to a sight for a shotgun, or the like, which sight has characteristics to promote more accurate directing or aiming of the gun at a moving target.

Gun sights heretofore employed on guns used in the shooting of moving targets have not been entirely satisfactory for various reasons, including the difliculty of rapidly drawing a bead on the target, difliculty in mounting, removing or adjusting the sight.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, sight for a gun capable of being quickly installed or removed, which can be adjusted with minimum effort, and by the use of which accurate aim of the gun at a movin target can be easily accomplished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating the use of the invention as applied to an automatic shotgun;

Fig. 2 an enlarged perspective of a modified form of the invention applied to a double barrel shotgun;

Fig. 3 an enlarged perspective of a further modified form of an over and under combination shotgun and rifle;

Fig. 4 a perspective of the mounting clamp and double barrel shotgun as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 a perspective of the mounting clamp used with an automatic shotgun as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 a, perspective of the mounting clamp used with the over and under shotgun and rifle illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 a longitudinal section through the sight of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 an exploded perspective of the sight and its parts used in conjunction with the mounting clamps of Figs. 4, 5 or 6;

Fig. 9 a perspective of a resilient pad to be used within the mounting of Fig. 5 for preventin injury to the shotgun.

With continued reference to the drawings the sight of the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular casing l0 having an upstanding opaque apron or flange II and a longitudinal slot I2 extending lengthwise in its upper horizontal portion. The apron is located at the rear upper edge of the casing l0. Sighting is done through the casing and the upstanding flange I l serves to screen or discourage improper 2 sighting as for example above the casing and consequent overshooting of the target.

Sight leads I3 are adapted to be disposed in spaced relation within the casing ID in order to assist in obtaining the proper aim or in determining the proper lead. The intermediate of these sight leads is disposed at the center in line with the axis of the barrel of the gun, while the others are disposed at the opposite sides thereof.

In the present instance the sight leads l3 are employed as a part of the mounting for the sight on its base or supporting clamp by means of which the device is attached to the desired firearm. The sight leads form the upper or nut portions for cooperation with fastening screws I, as shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. To assist in mounting and adjusting the sight, upper and lower mounting plates l5 and I6 are employed, which are provided respectively with slots Hand l8, the slot ll in the upper plate being slightly narrower than the slot .18 in the lower plate for proper adjustment of the center lead with the bead on the particular firearm to which the invention is applied. The plates l5 and I6, and the slots l1 and I8 also provide for adjustment across the width of the sight, when used in conjunction with firearms of different length sighting planes. For example, in the case of a barrel having a short sighting plane, it is desirable for a side lead on the barrel to be closer to the center lead, thereby establishing the correct lead for greater accuracy. 1

The sight of the present invention is susceptible of use with various types of firearms and necessarily requires a mounting suitable for each. As

shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 7, a mounting or supporting clamp I9 is provided for use with a double barrel shotgun 20, such clamp having curved barrel engaging gripping spring portions 2| for tightly engaging opposite sides of the twin barrels. The mounting clamp 19 is provided with a transverse slot 22, through which the screws [4 project or extend when the device is assembled, with the plates l5 and 16 above and below the body portion of the clamp, as shown in Fig. '7.

The supporting clamp or mounting member for the sight is constructed to fit the particular firearm to which the sight is applied. As stated, .the mounting clamp I9 is applicable to a double barrel shotgun, while in Fig. 5, a mounting clamp 23 is adapted to be applied to an automatic shotgun 24. As shown in this figure the application of the same in Fig. 1 th mounting clamp 23 is provided wlth clamping plates 25, which firmly engage the sides of the breechblock of the shotgun. A downturned flange 26 is adapted to engage the rear end of the breechblock of the gun and limit forward movement of the mounting clamp thereon particularly during recoil. The mounting clamp 23 is provided with a slot 2'! similar to the slot 22 in the mounting clamp IS in which slots fastening elements are located when the parts are assembled.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a modified mounting clamp 28 for application to an over and under rifle and shotgun combination, or to a straight over and under shotgun. This mounting clamp has side flanges provided with a pair of curved spring portions 30 for engaging the opposite sides of the over and under barrels of the gun. A slot 3| similar to the slots 22 and 21 for receiving the fastening elements 14 is likewise provided.

In order to prevent injury to a firearm, each of the mounting or supporting clamps may be lined with a resilient protective and cushioning element. The mounting clamp or support 23 is adapted to have a lining and cushioning element 32, including a tab 33, as shown in Fig. 9. This tab 33 underlies the downwardly turned portion 26, when the parts are assembled. The mounting or supporting clamps l9 and 28, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, require a similar lining and cushioning element with the tab 33 removed.

When the sight is used with an over and under type firearm, as shown in Fig. 3, instead of a center lead l3, as shown in Fig. 8, a center lead I 3 may be employed having a groove in the top of the same axially of the gun barrel for improving the sighting qualities of the rifle.

From the foregoing it will be understood that by the present invention there is provided a sight for use with a firearm, which sight is simple to produce and use, and easy to apply or remove. It will greatly improve accuracy in the operation of the firearm and can be readily and inexpensively produced.

The present invention can be used on a gun for firing either at objects which are immobile or at objects which are moving. When firing at a moving object, as shown in Fig. 1, wherein a bird is flying to the right, the line of vision is.

through the right lead and over the muzzle bead, whereupon the bird will actually be behind the spot at which the gun is aimed, and due to the speed of the bird and that of the charge from the gun, the charge and the bird will converge and the shot will be effective. In other words as the hunter traces the pattern of flight of the bird, as shown in Fig. 1, he will judge when to fire according to the characteristics of his firearm by keeping the bird or target, and the side lead in alignment, until the precise moment arrives then he will fire the gun. The effect will be that the charge will reach the spot at the same time as the bird, but only by tracing the pattern of flight of the target will this be accomplished.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be mad in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sight for a gun comprising a slotted, hollow, substantially rectangular, open-ended casing having a flange extending upwardly from one of its open ends for encouraging sighting through said casing instead of thereover when aiming the gun on which the device is applied a, slotted mounting member forisaid casing constructed to clampinglyengage a gun to which the device is applied, ,-a resilient shock-absorbing and protective member for said mounting member, fastening elements for securing said casing and said mounting member in assembled relation, slotted washer plates for location one in each of said casing and said mounting members, said fastening elements comprising bolts and nuts adapted to be spaced transversely of said casing and with said nuts located within said casing to provide spaced sighting leads, the slotted portion of the openended casing providing for the admission of light upon said lead-forming nuts and facilitating application and removal thereof.

2. A sight for a gun comprising a slotted, hollow, substantially rectangular, open-ended casing having a flange extending upwardly from one of its open ends for encouraging sighting through said casing instead of thereover when aiming the gun on which the device is applied, a slotted mounting member for said casing constructed to clampingly engage a gun to which the device is applied, fastening elements for securing said casing and said mounting member in assembled relation, slotted Washer plates for location one in each of said casing and said mounting members, said fastening elements comprising bolts and nuts adapted to be spaced transversely of said casing and with said nuts located within said casing to provide spaced sighting leads, the slotted portion of the open-ended casing providing for the admission of light upon said lead-forming nuts and facilitating application and removal thereof.

3. A sight for a gun comprising a slotted, hollow, substantially rectangular, open-ended casing having a flange extending upwardly from one of its open ends for encouraging sighting through said casing instead of thereover when aiming the gun on which the device is applied. a slotted mounting member for said casing constructed to clampingly engage a gun to Which the device is applied, a resilient shock-absorbing and protective member for said mounting mem-- ber, fastening elements for securing said casing and said mounting member in assembled relation, said fastening elements comprising bolts and nuts adapted to be spaced transversely of said casing and with said nuts located within said casing to provide spaced sighting leads, the slotted por tion of the open-ended casing providing for the admission of light upon said lead-forming nuts and facilitating application and removal thereof.

4. A sight for a gun comprising hollow, substantially rectangular open-ended casing having a flange extending upwardly from one of its open ends for encouraging sighting through said casing instead of thereover when aiming the gun on which the device is applied, a mounting member for said casing constructed to clampingly engage a gun to which the device is applied, fastening elements for securing said casing and said mounting member in assembled relation, said fastening elements comprising bolts and nuts adapted to be spaced transversely of said casing, and with said nuts located within said casing to provide spaced sighting leads.

5. A sight for a gun comprising a hollow, sub stantially rectangular member having an opaque portion extending upwardly therefrom for encouraging sighting through said hollow member instead of thereover when aiming the gun on SILAKUH HUUM which the device is applied, a mounting member for said rectangular member constructed to engage a gun to which the device is applied, fastening means for securing said rectangular member and said mounting member in assembled relation, and comprising projections spaced transversely within said rectangular member and providing sighting leads.

6. A sight for a gun comprising an elongated hollow member having an opaque portion extending upwardly therefrom for encouraging sighting through said hollow member instead of thereover when aiming the gun on which the device is applied, a mounting member for said hollow member constructed to engage a gun to which the device is applied, fastening means for securing the parts in assembled relation, comprising projections spaced transversely within said elongated member providing spaced sighting leads. r.

DANIEL S. McMILLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 744,651 Vickery Nov. 17, 1903 891,063 Harris June 16, 1908 1,205,756 Le Baron Nov. 21, 1916 1,653,924 Parker Dec. 27, 1927 2,433,909 Jefiries Jan. 6, 1948 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 118,249 Switzerland 1928 

